Where to be LGBTQ+ in Phoenix
Phoenix is an oasis in the heart of the desert for our LGBTQ+ community. It’s a rare gem of a place full of surprise and contrast where you can sip cocktails poolside with saguaro cacti in the background and experience high-spirited Pride events and festivals year round. It’s no surprise that here, you’ll find welcoming neighbors, LGBTQ-friendly destinations, diverse businesses with their doors wide open to all, and an LGBTQ+ history that is long and rich.
For starters, Phoenix has been celebrating Pride Month with LGBTQ+-friendly parades, entertainment, and outreach for more than four decades, gathering over 55,000 people annually. Plus, Phoenix has earned a score of 100 — the highest score possible — on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index Scorecard for many consecutive years.
The drag shows are fierce, the gayborhood is popping and the local LGBTQ-owned businesses are thriving hubs of creativity, resilience, and community pride.
“[Our community is] amazing and diverse,” says Deanna Jordan, executive director of the Greater Phoenix Equality Chamber of Commerce. “I think Phoenix is more welcoming than outsiders expect, and we have amazing places and destinations ... [that] share a common goal: celebrating our diversity and empowering people to live an authentic life, personally or professionally.”
Jordan credits Phoenix’s business community – as well as local nonprofit and political organizations – for creating space for the city’s LGBTQ+ community to not only exist, but flourish. “Come and visit, Phoenix won’t disappoint you.”
The Melrose District
Back to Top of ListIn Central Phoenix, there’s a one-mile stretch of Seventh Avenue (between Indian School and Camelback roads) that’s home to a higher concentration of LGBTQ+-owned businesses than anywhere else in the state. It passes through the historic Woodlea Melrose neighborhood, which dates back to the 1940s.
“I always refer to Melrose as the starting point for LGBTQ+ tourists,” says Tom Simplot, Phoenix City Councilman from 2003 to 2014. “There are funky shops, great restaurants, and fantastic nightlife, all within walking distance from each other. I would compare Melrose to early Hillcrest in San Diego or Wilton Manors in Fort Lauderdale.”
Places to explore in Melrose include:
Boycott Bar
4301 N. 7th Ave., Phoenix
A staple in Phoenix’s Melrose District since 2017, Boycott Bar is proudly lesbian-owned and one of the few of its kind in Arizona. It’s welcoming and high energy, featuring events like drag shows, ladies’ nights, Latin dance nights, and DJ sets.
Title 9 Sports Grill
4221 N. 7th Ave., Phoenix
Opened in 2025, Title 9 is the city’s first women-centered sports bar, created to celebrate female athletes and fans. Here you’ll find a lineup of women’s games on every screen and a menu named after sports legends.
Phoenix Coquí
4041 N. 15th Ave., Phoenix
What started as a food truck is now a go-to spot for authentic Puerto Rican comfort food in Central Phoenix. Dig into mofongo, pernil, and tostones in an inclusive setting that brings the island’s flavor and spirit to the desert.
Stacy’s @ Melrose
4343 N. 7th Ave., Phoenix
A staple of Phoenix’s LGBTQ+ nightlife, Stacy’s @ Melrose hosts drag shows, dance nights, and themed events. Highlights include the monthly Trey Cabaret, the Lady Berries Drag Show every second Sunday and the alternative drag show The Queer Agenda on Tuesdays.
Charlie’s Phoenix
727 W. Camelback Rd., Phoenix
A Phoenix institution since 1984, Charlie’s is the Valley’s largest LGBTQ+ country bar. Get down on the massive dance floor or hang out at the multiple bars and outdoor patio. There’s always a party at Charlie’s with drag shows, karaoke, and themed nights.
The Rock
4129 N. 7th Ave., Phoenix
A true neighborhood bar, The Rock has a spacious outdoor patio, daily drink specials, and events on the regular, including its iconic drag show and high-energy karaoke nights.
Royale Kitchen + Cocktails
635 W. Glenrosa Ave., Phoenix
Formerly YUMBAR, this is the latest venture from local hospitality veteran Mark Howard (of FEZ and Bliss ReBAR fame). With bold, metro-inspired cuisine and an impressive martini list, Royale caters to tourists and the local crowd.
The prominence of the district is especially gratifying to Mike Fornelli, executive director of Phoenix Pride.
According to Fornelli, the diversity, openness, and welcoming vibe of the Melrose District led to its selection as the site for one of Phoenix’s two rainbow crosswalks, at Seventh and Glenrosa avenues (the other is located at Central Avenue and Portland Street in downtown Phoenix).
The rainbow crosswalks, which were unveiled in July 2018, “serve a bright and lasting symbol of our LGBTQ+ presence in the city and our past, present, and future contributions to the community as a whole.”
“The role of the Melrose District is one of unification,” Fornelli says. “The level of acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community … is a result of the vibrant, local economy and the neighborhoods and businesses working together to create an atmosphere of tolerance and a safe space for anyone who visits.”
Explore More in the Melrose District
Downtown Phoenix and Beyond
Back to Top of ListWhile Melrose takes the cake for the oldest and most concentrated LGBTQ+ district in Phoenix, the downtown and surrounding areas host many LGBTQ-friendly places worthy of a stop. These inclusive LGBTQ+-owned businesses are working hard to build a community where you’re free to be you.
Sazerac
821 N. 2nd St., Phoenix
Tucked just off Roosevelt Row, Sazerac is a sultry, speakeasy-inspired bar. Known for its craft cocktails, inclusive atmosphere, spacious patio, and rotating taco cart, it’s a favorite among the LGBTQ+ community.
Walter Where?House
702 N. 21st Ave., Phoenix
Here is where you find nightlife in the Valley. This warehouse-turned-wonderland is a playground for art, music, and radical self-expression. Run by the creative minds behind Walter Productions, it hosts everything from EDM shows to interactive art installations.
Dialog Coffee
1001 N. Central Ave., Suite 110, Phoenix
A sleek, design-forward café in the heart of Roosevelt Row, Dialog is more than just a coffee shop. It is a hub for art, community, and conversation, known for its curated coffee program, art book library, and LGBTQ+ events.
Phoenix General
Uptown: 5538 N. 7th St., Phoenix
Downtown: 214 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix
Phoenix General is a modern desert boutique with roots in the city’s LGBTQ+ arts scene. With locations in Uptown and Roosevelt Row, the shop curates Sonoran-inspired goods, wearable art, and local treasures — like their much-loved creosote bundles.
The Scookie Bar
901 N. 1st St., Unit 100, Phoenix
Scookie = ice cream scoop + cookie. It’s a winning combination for this LGBTQ+ and woman-owned dessert spot in Roosevelt Row. Grab customizable deep-dish skillet cookies topped with your choice of ice cream and toppings.
The Coronado
2245 N. 12th St., Phoenix
An LGBTQ+–owned favorite since 2015, The Coronado dishes up plant-based comfort food all day in a vibrant, newly upgraded space. Come for the tacos and cocktails, and don’t miss sister spot Dark Hall Coffee for vegan-goth espresso and pastries.
Whether you’re here for a weekend or planting deep roots, Phoenix offers a thriving, joyful landscape where LGBTQ+ life isn’t just welcomed — it’s celebrated. So go ahead: explore, connect, and be exactly who you are. This city is ready for you.
